Gabourey Sidibe to Star in Phone Sex Comedy Pilot From Onyx Collective

Gabourey Sidibe (Credit: Shutterstock)

Gabourey Sidibe is working on a steamy new role, as a phone sex operator in a comedy tentatively titled 1266.

The pilot has been picked up by Disney-owned Onyx Collective, the brand announced over the weekend at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif.

Per the announcement, the story is inspired by Sidibe’s real-life experiences. The Oscar-nominated actress stars in the pilot as Gabby Brixton, an aimless young woman who lives with her mom and dreams of becoming a singer/model and overnight millionaire.

“When she’s fired from her job … yet again … she stumbles upon the gig of a lifetime — phone sex! What initially seems like a quick way to make money turns into a life-changing experience when she meets the women who become her chosen family and learns how powerful, profitable and prolific her voice can be,” according to the official description.

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The pilot from 20th Television is executive produced by Sidibe, Thembi Banks (Only Murders in the Building), Steven Canals (Pose), Julie Bean (Grown-ish), and Jill Kaplan.

Banks and Bean will serve as co-showrunners.

The story comes from Gabourey Sidibe and Banks, with Banks writing the script and directing the pilot.

Sidibe received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the 2009 film Precious. Since then, she’s had roles in American Horror Story, Empire, the TV movie All I Didn’t Want for Christmas, and the films Tower Heist and Antebellum.

Onyx Collective is part of Disney and brings projects from creators of color and underrepresented voices to audiences to air on Hulu.

The brand is also bringing Hulu’s The 1619 Project documentary series to TV, along with a new docuseries on the rise and influence of Black Twitter.


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